Background checks in the United Kingdom

The DBS level depends on the role. A Basic check (Level 1 Disclosure) shows unspent convictions and is available for any position. A Standard check (Level 2) reveals spent and unspent convictions and is limited to roles listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order. An Enhanced check adds police intelligence and is required for roles involving children or vulnerable adults. An Enhanced check with Barred List access is needed for regulated activity with vulnerable groups. Turn can help you determine the appropriate level for each position.

Turn delivers DBS Basic checks in approximately 1 day, compared to the industry average of 11–14 days. Right to Work verification completes in under 24 hours. Identity verification is instant. Standard and Enhanced DBS checks depend on the Disclosure and Barring Service processing times, but Turn's automated workflows minimise delays at every stage.

Yes. Turn's UK screening workflows comply fully with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This includes lawful basis processing under consent or legitimate interest, data minimisation, candidate rights to access and erasure, Standard Contractual Clauses for cross-border data transfers, and complete audit trails. Turn holds SOC 2 Type II certification and follows ISO 27001-aligned information security practices.

Turn's Right to Work verification confirms a candidate's legal entitlement to work in the United Kingdom, fully aligned with Home Office requirements. The process supports digital identity verification and document checks, returning results in under 24 hours. It covers British and Irish citizens, settled and pre-settled status holders, and visa holders with valid work permissions.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, certain convictions become "spent" after a rehabilitation period and are filtered from Standard and Enhanced DBS checks. Filtering rules determine which offences are never removed and which are filtered based on the offence type, disposal, and time elapsed. Turn's workflows account for these filtering rules and ensure only legally disclosable information is surfaced to employers.

Yes. Turn offers pre-built integrations with leading ATS and HRIS platforms including Fountain, Lever, Greenhouse, Rippling, and iCIMS. UK background checks are initiated, tracked, and reviewed through the same integration your team uses for domestic screening. See our integrations page for the full list.

Turn holds SOC 2 Type II (independently audited) and SOC 3 (publicly available) certifications. Our screening workflows are aligned with ISO 27001 information security management standards. We maintain compliance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and support Standard Contractual Clauses for cross-border data transfers.

Yes. Turn supports screening in all four UK nations. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, as well as across 60+ European countries. DBS checks are specific to England and Wales, with equivalent systems available for Scotland (Disclosure Scotland) and Northern Ireland (AccessNI). European screening is handled through the same platform with GDPR-compliant workflows for each jurisdiction.